Beallara Big Shot &#39;Hilo Sparkle&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of orchid plant of the Oncidiinae Intergenerics,  Beallara,  named  Beallara  Big Shot ‘Hilo Sparkle’, distinguished particularly by a clean striking color and large star-shaped flowers that are arranged pleasingly on a raceme and growing quickly to sexual maturity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND GREX OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

The Latin name of the genus and grex of the plant claimed is BeallaraBig Shot.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Beallaraorchid, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Beallara BigShot ‘Hilo Sparkle’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beallara is an artificial hybrid of orchids between four genera in thesubtribe Oncidiinae. Beallara is made from the genera Odontoglossum,consisting of about 300 species, Brassia, consisting of a little over 30species, Miltonia, consisting of about 11 species of the ‘BrazilianMiltonias’ (intermediate to warm growing, distinguished from the coolgrowing ‘Miltoniopsis’) and Cochlioda, consisting of 6 species. Thefirst hybrid of Beallara was created in 1970 by Beall and registered byMoir. Due to the varying percentages of the parent genera that make upBeallara and the gene expression in their progeny, Beallara varies inmorphology and size. All exhibit sympodial growth habit.

Beallara breeding is typically done from sexual methods. Asexualpropagation of Beallara is often done in aseptic tissue culture fromapical or axillary shoots at a tissue culture laboratory.

The new cultivar was discovered within the progeny of a cross made inHilo, Hi. on Dec. 4, 2001. The Inventor selected Beallara Big Shot ‘HiloSparkle’ as a single plant from a population of over 100 plants grown inMountain View, Hi. Beallara Big Shot ‘Hilo Sparkle’ was re-flowered forevaluation and submitted by the Inventor to a commercial tissue culturelaboratory in Bangkok, Thailand on Mar. 3, 2007 for asexual propagationthrough aseptic tissue culture technique.

Other seedlings from the same cross that was used to produce BeallaraBig Shot ‘Hilo Sparkle’ have been commercially available from others.The characteristics of Beallara Big Shot ‘Hilo Sparkle’ are clearlydistinguishable from the characteristics of its silblings. The siblingplants were sold without specific epithet to individuals and othernurseries. To the Inventor's knowledge, there are no other named clonesof the cross. The inventor has reason to believe that Beallara Big Shot‘Hilo Sparkle’ is superior to the other seedlings in flower size, shapeand color as well as the spiking habit. Plants of the grex Beallara BigShot are sold as plants of the grex without specific epithet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of the new cultivar which in combinationdistinguish this Beallara orchid as a new and distinct cultivar:

Flowers of the new cultivar are creamy white in color with irregularpurple blotches on the basal half of the sepals and petals. The labellumis creamy white with a broad maroon blotch surrounding the callus. Thecallus is yellow overlaid with maroon striate and develops as a swellingin the lip throat, bifurcating into two diverging horns about 5millimeters (mm) in height. The anther cap and column are creamy whitein color. The sides of the column are overlaid by purple towards thebase and the underside of the column becomes yellow towards the base.The column wings are rectangular denticulate, mainly creamy white incolor with a small purple spot. The flowers are rigid and slightlyscented. The natural horizontal spread is 12.2 centimeters (cm); naturalvertical spread is 12.9 cm; dorsal sepal width 2.5 cm; dorsal sepallength 7.0 cm; petal width 3.0 cm; petal length 6.9 cm; lateral sepalwidth 2.3 cm; lateral sepal length 6.8 cm; labellum width 6.5 cm;labellum length 6.1 cm. The plant produces one inflorescence on thefirst bloom with six flowers.

Inflorescence is a basal raceme, upright or arching, and approximately38-58 cm tall. The plant is relatively compact and the size of theinflorescence is appropriate to the overall size of the plant andtypical pot size for this cultivar.

There are generally four leaves on the mature psuedobulb, two from theapex and two from the base of the psuedobulb. The apical leaves measurearound 20 to 36 cm long and are around 4 to 5 cm wide. The leaves fromthe base of the pseudobulb measure from 19.5 to 25.5 cm long and are 4.5to 5.5 cm wide. Axillary leaves, or bracts, are usually present belowthe leaves at the base of the psuedobulb. When present, there is usuallyone on either side of the pseudobulb, 7 to 15 cm long, appearing as asheath. The leaves are lanceolate acuminate, entire andsemi-conduplicate at the base. The texture and substance is slightlyundulate, waxy and somewhat coriaceous. The plants of Beallara Big Shot‘Hilo Sparkle’ grow to maturity and flower in approximately 18 months.

Plants of the new cultivar have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in the environment such as temperature, light intensity, andday length, without however any change in genotype.

Plants of the new cultivar differ primarily from the plants of theparent cultivars in flower color, panicle size, rate of growth and speedto maturation. Perhaps the closest commercial comparison to the newcultivar can be made to seedling-derived Beallara orchids which aregenetically heterogeneous, and typically lack uniformity in growth,vigor, plant habit, and flower quality. Since this reference point hasinconsistent characteristics, a direct comparison for Beallara Big Shot‘Hilo Sparkle’ is not available. The new cultivar is a single genotypeasexually propagated via tissue culture; thus, its combinedhorticultural characteristics listed above are uniform and predictable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings show the colors of the new variety as nearly true aspossible with an illustration of this type. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant to reveal the growth habit andgeneral characteristics with its flowers, which is typical of this newvariety.

FIG. 2 is a close up view of the flower to show its shape.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

All color references are measured against the Pantone® Color System.Colors and numerical measurements are approximate as plant growth anddevelopment depends on environmental conditions and cultural practicessuch as light level, temperature, water quality, fertilization formulaand rate, among others, without, however, any variance in genotype.

Plants used for this description are 18 months in vivo and grown insquare, black plastic pots measuring 3.5″ at the top of the pot andtapering down to 2.5″ at the bottom of the pot with a height of 3.75″,grown in a poly-film covered greenhouse in Mountain View, Hi., where daytemperatures range from 75 to 85 degrees and night temperatures rangefrom 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Light levels are approximately 2500foot candles. This information reflects the annual variations for thearea.

-   Botanical classification: Beallara Big Shot ‘Hilo Sparkle’-   Parentage: Seedling selected from the cross of the following:    -   -   Seed parent.—Miltonia Maui Titan.        -   Pollen parent.—Beallara Tahoma Glacier.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Asexual propagation by aseptic tissue culture through            axillary shoot initiation.        -   Time to initiate and elongate roots in-vivo.—about 45 days.        -   Time to produce fully rooted young plant.—about 240 days.-   Root description: Velamen covered roots, approximately 2 mm in    diameter, white in color with yellow to green growing tip. The exact    shades of white and yellow/green vary greatly with minimal changes    in environmental conditions.-   Plant description: Under appropriate growing conditions, plants of    the new cultivar attain a mature size of about 36 cm in height (top    of leaf plane) and about 5.0 cm in width. The height from soil level    to the top of the inflorescences averages 42.5 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Sympodial growth habit.        -   Quantity of leaves per growth.—Each sympodial growth has            shown four leaves, two on the apex of the pseudobulb and two            from the axis at the base of the pseudobulb.        -   Leaf length.—Leafs measure up to 36 cm in length. The            axillary leaves at the base of the psuedobulb may be as            short as 7 cm to appear to be a sheath and as long as 15 cm.        -   Leaf width.—The width of the largest leaf measures up to 5.0            cm.        -   Leaf shape.—The shape is lanceolate acuminate, entire, apex            acute and slightly recurved with a semi-conduplicate base.            The leaf margins are smooth, parallel venation apparent,            texture and substance of both the upper and lower surfaces            of the leaf is slightly undulate, waxy and coriaceous.        -   Pseudobulb shape.—The pseudobulb shape is a laterally            compressed ovoid.        -   Pseudobulb length.—The pseudobulb is approximately 8 to 11.5            cm long.        -   Psuedobulb width.—The pseudobulb is approximately 5 cm wide            and 1.5 cm thick.        -   Foliage color.—Under the described growing conditions, the            foliage color on both sides of the leaves is similar to            Pantone® 371C (green) of the Pantone® Color System. There is            no vein color distinction. The pseudobulb color ranges from            Pantone® 5825C (yellowish green) to Pantone® 371C (green).-   Flower/inflorescence description:    -   -   Description.—Upright or arching raceme, terete,            approximately 38 cm in length and 0.4 cm in width on a first            bloom plant, typically occurring on the second psuedobulb            and grown in square black plastic pots measuring 3.5″ on            top, 2.5″ on the bottom with a height of 3.75″. The glabrous            peduncles range from approximately 10-15 cm in length with a            diameter of 0.03-0.05 cm. The pedicels are approximately 5.3            cm in length and 0.03 cm in diameter. Although somewhat            pliable when physically bent, they are fairly rigid and            strong, supporting each flower sufficiently. The angle of            the pedicels are 45° or less when the plant is in bud,            changing to a 75-90° angle when the flowers open, giving the            flowers proper spacing to display themselves without            overcrowding. The texture of the pedicels is rugose and the            coloration is light green (Pantone® 377PC). Each raceme            averages 6 flowers. Typically, there is one inflorescence            per psuedobulb, but at times, two inflorescences per            pseudobulb have been observed on this cultivar. The flowers            begin approximately halfway up the raceme and are spaced            around 3 to 4 cm apart. The size of the inflorescence is            appropriate to the overall size of the plant and typical pot            size for this cultivar. The above description is of a first            bloom plant in the pot sized as outlined with 2 pseudobulbs.            If additional pseudobulbs are grown, each psuedobulb will            produce 1-2 racemes with and average of 6 flowers. The            flower buds are conical acute, 1 cm in diameter and 4 cm in            length. The surface is glabrous and the coloration is            Pantone® 381UP (light green) and Pantone® 254UP (purple).            The flowers are bilaterally symmetrical, which is typical of            most orchids. Each flower consists of 3 sepals and 3 petals.            The lower petal is modified and referred to as the labellum            and/or lip. The dorsal sepal is lanceolate, apex apiculate            and reflexed, margins smooth. The lateral sepals are similar            in shape though slightly smaller in length and width. The            base of the sepals is mainly hidden by the overlapping of            the petals at this junction. Petals are ovate acuminate,            apex reflexed with somewhat undulate margins and slightly            concave at the base. Sepal and petal texture is crystalline            and hyaline, which allows you to see the parallel venation.            The sepals and petals are creamy white in color (Pantone®            7499C). The basal half of the sepals and petals is marked            with heavy maroon/purple (Pantone® 242C) blotching. The            lower surfaces of the sepals and petals is similar, these            colors faded but showing through, except for the mesial            parts of the sepals which are light green (Pantone® 380UP)            from the base to the apex and approximately 0.7 cm wide. The            labellum (lip) is a compressed ovoid, bilobed with undulate            margins. The lip lamina is almost square shaped at its base.            The texture of both upper and lower surfaces is crystalline            and pannose. The main color is creamy white (Pantone®            7499C). The callus is yellow and maroon as described below.            Outside of the callus is a broad patch, darker maroon            towards the base (Pantone® 696PC ) and lighter maroon            (Pantone® 696C) towards the margins. The callus of the            labellum begins at its base as a swelling and extends            mesially towards the apex. The callus diverges into two            horns pointing down and slightly outward, 5 mm in height,            1.3 cm in length, and each approximately 0.5 cm in width.            The texture of the apical surfaces of the calli are dentate,            the sides are rigid and smooth. The color for all surfaces            of the callus is yellow (Pantone® 7405C) with maroon            (Pantone® 696C) striations.        -   Dimensions.—Flower dimensions are: natural horizontal spread            is 12.2 cm; natural vertical spread is 12.9 cm; dorsal sepal            width is 2.5 cm; dorsal sepal length is 7.0 cm; lateral            sepal width is 2.3 cm; lateral sepal length is 6.8 cm; petal            width is 3.0 cm; petal length is 6.9 cm; labellum width is            6.5 cm; labellum length is 6.1 cm.        -   Coloration.—The dominant flower color that appears on the            sepals and petals as well as the labellum is a creamy white,            Pantone® 7499C. The interior irregular blotching of the            tepals is purple Pantone® 242C. The broad maroon blotch            surrounding the callus ranges from Pantone® 696C around the            edges to Pantone® 696PC on the interior. The crest of the            labellum is yellow, Pantone® 7405C, striated maroon,            Pantone® 696C. The anther cap is creamy white, Pantone®            7499PC. The base color of the column is creamy white, with            purple, Pantone® 242C, on the sides towards the base and            yellow, Pantone® 7405C, on the underside towards the base.            The pollinia are completely concealed by the anther cap, and            if it is removed the pollinia may be extracted. The pollinia            are yellow, Pantone® 116U, but can range in shades of yellow            as the plant ages.-   Quantity of flowers and time to flower:    -   -   Flower longevity.—The flowers can last longer than 8 weeks            on the plant with good environmental conditions. A first            bloom plant will produce around 6 flowers depending on            environmental conditions. Since this plant has been grown            for pot plant purposes, cut flower longevity has not been            observed.        -   Natural flowering season.—This plant has appeared to be free            flowering although the dominant flowering season is fall            (September, October, November, December).-   Fragrance: A slight fragrance has been detected by the Inventor.-   Reproductive organs: The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a    single short structure called the column, possessing one terminal    anther with pollen grains united to a pollinia, which are covered by    an anther cap. The stigma is located under the column behind the    pollinia. The ovary is inferior, with three carpels being present.    -   -   Column.—The column is erect with rectangular denticulate            wings on either side of the stigma, 2 mm wide by 5 mm long.        -   Pollinia.—Two oval masses of pollen are present, about 1 mm            in diameter and 2 mm long.        -   Stigma.—The stigma is concave, round, with a high gloss, and            sticky. The length of the stigma is 1.3 cm and the width is            0.3 cm. The stigma is cream colored (Pantone® 614PC).        -   Ovary.—The ovary is about 5.5 cm long by 4 mm in diameter            and light green in color (Pantone® 377PC).        -   Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.-   Disease resistance: Resistance or susceptibility to known pathogens    of Beallara has not been observed on plants grown under commercial    production conditions.-   General observations: Plants of Beallara Big Shot ‘Hilo Sparkle’    produce a pleasing arrangement of large, creamy white, star-shaped    flowers with a clean striking color on a raceme that is desirable in    size for the size of the plant. The flowers are long lasting and    nicely shaped. The plant grows quickly to sexual maturity.

1. A new and distinct variety of orchid plant named Beallara Big Shot‘Hilo Sparkle’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.